Stilleto Boy Beats Favored Express Train in Californian
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Stilleto Boy wins the Californian at Santa Anita Park
After Stilleto Boy defeated favored Express Train in the April 30 Californian Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita, trainer Ed Moger Jr. grinned sheepishly and said, "He's the best horse we ever had, and we didn't have a win picture—now we do."
Moger's brother Steve had bought Stilleto Boy last year for $420,000, a price Ed thought was too high. Stilleto Boy had more than justified his purchase price, however, running out more than $600,000 in just nine months. And he did it in the highest company, including the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by 1/ST BET (G1), but without a victory.
That all changed in the 1 1/8-mile Californian. With Juan Hernandez in the irons for the first time, Stilleto Boy took the lead right out of the gate.
As Ed Moger put it, "We didn't say to go to the lead. We just said to hustle him out of there and get him into the race."
Hernandez credited Stilleto Boy with helping him to follow instructions.
"He broke really sharp and put himself on the lead and held onto it," Hernandez said.
With only four in the field after the scratch of Shaaz , Stilleto Boy led the quartet from start to finish. Express Train, the 2-5 favorite after wins in the San Antonio Stakes (G2), San Pasqual Stakes (G2), and Santa Anita Handicap Presented by Yaamava' Resort & Casino (G1), tracked Stilleto Boy, the 2-1 second choice, in second.
Express Train never let Stilleto Boy get too far away throughout early fractions of :22.92 for the first quarter and :46.30 for the half-mile. Down the backstretch, the favorite raced about a half-length behind Stilleto Boy, with Holden the Lute on the rail in third and Spielberg fourth. Only about two lengths separated the field early.
Heading into the second turn, Express Train began to launch his bid, but Stilleto Boy actually increased his advantage to a length. Express Train wasn't about to give up, however. The two battled down the stretch, pulling farther and farther away from the others.
"(Express Train) ran really well and he was right next to me the whole time," said Hernandez. "Around the turn, it looked like he was going to pass by."
But Stilleto Boy never let Express Train catch him. Approaching the wire, Stilleto Boy drew away for a final winning margin of 2 1/4 lengths, stopping the clock in 1:48.07. It was 22 lengths back to Spielberg, who finished third, 4 1/4 lengths in front of Holden the Lute, a $50,000 claim in his last start.
Steve Moger bought Stilleto Boy from Paramount Sales at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton July horses of racing age sale. The then 3-year-old gelding was coming off a victory in the Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows for a partnership that included his breeders, John and Iveta Kerber.
Stilleto Boy is a Kentucky-bred son of Shackleford --Rosie's Ransom , by Marquetry . Rosie's Ransom has also produced stakes winner Rosie My Rosie and stakes-placed Condo Closing .
For the Moger brothers, Stilleto Boy had placed in five stakes: a second in the Awesome Again Stakes (G1) and thirds in the Pegasus Cup (to Life Is Good and Knicks Go ), Santa Anita Handicap, Malibu Stakes (G1), and Shared Belief Stakes.
Stilleto Boy became a millionaire with the Californian victory, his total earnings now $1,031,175.